Friday, January 23, 2009

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Half of the lady mangaka duo that is PEACH-PIT has been hospitalised with what looks to be a serious, though not life threatening, illness.

As a result, the busy group is forced to suspend publication of no less than three titles: Rozen Maiden, Zombie-Loan, and Shugo Chara.

It looks as though there is no danger of a permanent cessation, but the timeframe for resuming publication is not clear.

Their announcement reads as follows:

In this month’s editions of GFantasy, Young Jump and Nakayoshi, the latest chapters of ZOMBIE-LOAN, Rozen Maiden and Shugo Chara will not be appearing.

Due to a sudden illness, the author must unfortunately suspend publication.

To all those anticipating the latest editions, we apologise unreservedly. We tried to arrange matters so a suspension would not be required, but it just wasn’t possible.

I’d like to get well soon, leave hospital, and return to work healthy. I’ll be back to working eagerly on the three titles shortly, so I’d be delighted if you could just wait for me a little longer.

Please bear with us for now,

PEACH-PIT

Hopefully she will get well soon, though it’s not made clear which of the duo is ill, and of course the understandable reticence to reveal private details leaves us with no idea as to what precisely prompted this extraordinary move.

So soon after almost losing Eri Takenashi to a severe health problem, and with the status of Kannagi yet in doubt, it is at least reassuring to know that in this case there appears to be no danger to the mangaka’s life, and also none to the works.

2ch for its part is as usual filled with speculation, with at least one puzzled voice asking if otaku somehow found out Shinku was second-hand…